Circulation control apparatus for the low pressure side of refrigerating systems



March 1, 1932. R. L. MYERS 1,847,255

CIRCULATION CONTROL APPARATUS FOR THE LOW PRESSURE SIDE OF REFRIGERATINGSYSTEMS" Filed Oct. 21, 192'? 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. 05552" L. MYEEEA TTORNEY March 1, 1932. R. MYERS CIRCULATION CONTROL APPARATUS FOR THELOW RESSURE SIDE OF REFRIGERATING SYSTEMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct.21, 1927 IN VEN TOR. 30552274. me

By W

A TTORNEY Patented Mar. 1, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROBERT L.MYERS, OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA CIRCULATION CONTROL APPARATUS FOR THELOW PRESSURE SIDE OF I REFRIGERATING SYSTEMS Application filed October21, 1927 Serial No. 227,675.

My invention relates to refrigerating systems and particularly to thechilling unit apparatus of refrigerating systems, and the objects of myinvention are: first, to provide an apparatus of this class in which there-,

frigerant is admitted from the high pressure to the low pressure sidethrough a needle valve and diverges by a flexible partition to achilling unit and returns to the other side 9 of said flexible partitionwhich contains a float ball which governs the amount of refrigerantpassing through theneedle valve in said first partition; second, toprovide an apparatus of this class in which the amount of 1.;refrigerant in the entire refrigerating system may vary considerablywithoutinterfering with the operation of the chilling unit; third, toprovide an apparatus of this class which prevents the ungasifiedrefrigerant from passing back to the compressor; fourth, to provide anapparatus of this class in which the valve housing and needle valve maybe located in any position relative to'the chilling coil; fifth, toprovide an apparatus of this class in which the valve housing is capableof absorbing heat from the surrounding air for gasifying the surplus ofliquid refrigerant; sixth, to provide an apparatus of this class inwhich the output of the compressor may vary considerably withoutinterfering with the action of the chilling unit; seventh, to provide aneedle valve and float housing of this class which is readily adaptablefor any type of mechanical refrigerating apparatus of this class inwhich a plurality of chilling units together with the needle valve andfloat housing may be connected in multiple to a single compressing plantthereby permitting independent operation of the several chilling unitsand to provide sel-f adjustable means whereby a limited number of thechilling units may be disconnected -.without materially effecting theremaining system; ninth, to provide an apparatus of this class which isespecially adapted for apartment houses or the like where a plurality ofsmall refrigerating units may be operated by a single compressing powerplant, and tenth, to provide an apparatus system; eighth, to provide arefrigeratingof this class which is easily installed and repaired,durable, efficient in its action, sturdy of construction and which willnot readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view as will appear hereinafter, myinvention consists of certain novel features of construction,combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafterdescribed in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims,reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the charactersof reference thereon which form a part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 is'a side elevational view of a single chilling unit of myrefrigerating system; Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional View of the floatand needle valve housing with parts and portions shown in elevation tofacilitate the illustration; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional viewthereof through 33 of Fig. 2 withparts and portions shown in elevationto facilitate the illustration; Fig. 4 is another transverse sectionalview through 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is an enlarged elevational view ofthe needle valve and diaphragm; Figs. 6, 7 and 8 disclose a slightmodification of which Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view thereofwith parts and portions shown in elevation to facilitate theillustration; Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view thereof through 7 ofFig. 6 and Fig. 8 is an enlarged elevational view of the needle valveand diaphragm with a portion thereof broken away and in section to.facilitate the illustra tion, and Fig. 9 is a diagrammatical Viewshowing several chilling units connected in multiple and operated by asingle compressor.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portionsthroughout the several views of the drawings.

In the preferred form the needle ,valve housing 1, end plate 2,diaphragm 3, needle valved, support 5, pin 6, needle valve actuatingmeans 7, link member 8, float 9, float chamber 10, and in themodification needle valve housing 11, end plate 12, diaphragm 13, needlevalve 14, supporting means 15, pin

16, needle valve actuating means 17, link member 18, float 19 and floatchamber 20 constitute the principal parts and portions of myrefrigerating chilling unit.

The needle valve housing 1 is provided with an axial positioned openingwhich extends the length of the housing. The extended end of the housing1 is adapted to receive the end of a high pressure pipe H from acompressor unit, not shown. The passage 1a adjacent to the end of thehigh pressure pipe H is constricted and verges into a slightly largerpassage 16. The portion between the two passages 1a and 16 form a needlevalve seat 10. The passage 15 is widened forming a small chamber 1dwhich extends the rean annular depression 2a with a concentric opening26 therein which is centered on the axial line of the needle valvehousing 1. Centered in the'annular depression 2a and supported by itsedges in a gasket positioned between the plate and the needle valvehousing is a diaphragm 3. The diaphragm 3 is provided with severalconcentric corrugations therein to give added flexibility. Centered inthe diaphragm 3, secured intermediate its ends therewith and formingfluid tight joint is a needle valve 4. The one of the two extendedportions of the needle valve 4 is provided with a pointed end whichextends into the passagelb of the needle valve housing and is adapted torest against the valve seat 10 when in a closed position. The needlevalve adjacent to its pointed end is provided with a plurality of flatsurfaces 4a which permits the refrigerant from the compressor to seeppast the needle valve into the chamber 10?. The other extended portionof the needle valve passes through hole 2e in the end plate 2. The plate2 is provided in its lower portion with an opening which receives afitting 2?) for receiving the low pressure end C2 of the chilling coilC. Directly above the fitting 25 another fitting 2c-to which is secureda pipe L leading to thelower side of the compressor, not shown.-Mount.ed on the inner face of the plate 2 is a support 5 which isprovided with spaced apart lugs 5a.

Pivotally mounted between the lugs 5a by means of a pin 6 is a needlevalve actuating means 7 which is provided with an upwardly extending arm7 b which engages a. slot 41) in the under side of the needle valve 4.Thus a pivotal movement of the needle valve actuating means 7 causes areciprocal movement of with annular corrugations 130.

the needle valve 4. The actuating means 7 is connected by means of alink member 8 to a float 9. The float chamber 10 encloses the needlevalve actuating mechanism. The float chamber 10' is provided withsemisphcrical upper and lower portions connected by-straight sides, asshown best in Fig. 4 of the drawings, and is closed at its one end. Itsopen end is provided with an annular collar to which is secured the endplate 2 by means of bolts 2d. The sides of the floathousing 10 areprovided with a plurality of spaced apart outwardly and verticallyextending fins 106, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings. Itsclosed end 10a is provided with similar vertical-fins 10c.

In the modification the needle valve housing 11 is provided with anaxial positioned opening extending therethrough. The extended end of thevalve housing 11 is adapted 'to receive the high pressure pipe H fromthe condenser, not shown. The portion 1a of the axially extendingpassage is constricted and extends between the high pressure pipe H andthe needle valve seat 11?). The remaining portion of the opening isincreased in diameter to receive a needle valve 14. The supported end ofthe needle valve housing 11 is provided with an annular flange 11d andis .securedto an end plate 12 by means of bolts 110. The end plate 12 isprovided with a hollow cylindrical extended portion-12a which isconcentric with the axial opening in the needle valve housing 11 andwhich is partially closed at its extended end having a drical portion12a .of the endplate 12, is

closed at its extcnded end and is provided Centrally mounted inthe-closed extended end portion of the diaphragm 13 is a needle valve14. The needle valve 14 is secured intermediate its ends and makes afluid tight joint with said diaphragm 13. The one end portion 14a of theneedle valve is pointed and is adapted to engage the valve seat 11?)when in its closed position. A chamber 13d is formed within thecylindrical portion of the diaphragm 13 and is bounded on one side bythe ,central portion of the supported side of the valve housing 11. Apassage 11; in the needle valve housing communicates with said chamber18d and is'adapted to receive a fitting which con- ,n'ects it in the lowpressure side C1 of the chilling coil C, not shown. The lower portion ofthe end plate 12 is provided with a hollow fitting 1% to which isconnected the low pressure side C2 of the chilling coil. Diametricallyopposite the fitting 12?) is a similar fitting which communicates withfit the low pressure side L of the compressor,

not shown. A support 15 is provided which is secured to the end of plate12 and is provided with a pair of spaced apart lugs 15a which arepositioned directly under that portion of the needle valve 14 whichextends through the end plate 12. Mounted between the lugs 15a by meansof a pin 16 is a valve actuating means 17 which is provided with an arm17a which engages a slot 14?) in the under side of the needle valve 14,as shown best in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings. The needle valveactuating means 17 is connected by means of a link member 18 to a float19. The means for actuating the needle valve described in themodification is similar to that described in the preferred form ofconstruction. The'float housing 20 covers the needle valve actuatingmechanism and is secured to the end plate 12 by means of an annularcollar 20a. The float housing 20 is cylindrical in cross section andpermanently closed at its one end by an end member 20?).

It will be noted that the float housings 10 and 20 may be interchangedwithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

The operation of my chilling refrigerating unit is as follows:

The compressed refrigerant which is in the form of a liquid comes fromthe compressor th: ough the high pressure pipe H and is expanded bymeans of the needle valve 4 or 14 into the chamber 1a or 13d. Theexpanded refrigerant passes through the refrigerating coil (J, which maybe of any form of construction, where a relatively large portion of therefrigerant evaporates to a gas. The gas and the remaining liquidrefrigerant passes from the chilling coil into the float housing wherethe gas passes out through the passage L to the compressing unit. Theliquid which has not evaporated while passing through the chilling coilcauses the float to fluctuate, thus controlling the amount of fluidpassing through the needle valve. When the liquid refrigerant rises toohigh in the float housing, the needle valve is closed until the requiredamount of refrigerant has evaporated. Thus no liquid will pass pack tothe compressor.

It will be noted that the float and needle valve mechanism will permit aconsiderable fluctuation in the volume of refrigerant and that each unitwhen connected in multiple as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 9 will workindependent of each other, thus one of the units as shown in Fig. 9 maybe disconnected without effecting the remaining units.

It is obvious from the construction as illustrated in the drawings anddescribed in the foregoing specification that there is provided arefrigerating unit as aimed at and set forth in the objects of theinvention and though I have shown and described a particularconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts-and portions I donotwish to be limited to this particular construction, combination andarrangement but desire to include in the scope of my invention theconstruction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth inthe appended claims.

Having-thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a refrigerating apparatus of the class described, a chamberprovided with an inlet and an outlet, a second chamber provided with aninlet and an outlet, said outlet of said first mentioned chambercommunicating directly with said inlet in said second mentioned chamberat the lower side thereof through a refrigerating coil whereby liquidrefrigerant is delivered to said second mentioned chamber at the lowerside thereof, a flexible partition between said first and secondmentioned chambers, a needle valve secured and supported intermediateits ends in said partition for regulating the size of said inlet openingin said first mentioned chamber, and a float mounted in said secondmentioned chamber for actuating said needle valve.

2. In a refrigerating apparatus, a chilling unit comprising a valvehousing, a float housing and a chilling coil and liquid refrigerantconductor communicating from said valve housing to the lower side ofsaid float housing. a flexible diaphragm positioned between said valveand float housings, and a needle "alve secured and sup-portedintermediate its ends in said diaphragm for regulating the size of aninlet opening in said valve housing, said needle valve controlled byfloat means mounted in said float housing.

3. In a refrigerating apparatus, a chilling unit comprising a valvehousing, a float housing and a chilling coil and liquid refrigerantconductor communicating directly from said valve housing to the lowerside of said float housing, a substantially flat flexible diaphragmprovided with corrugations therein, and a needle valve securedintermediate-its ends in said diaphragm for regulating the size of aninlet opening in said valve housmg, saidneedle valve controlled by floatmeans mounted in said float housing.

4. In a refrigerating apparatus consisting of a compressor andcondensing means, a plurality of chilling units mounted in multiplebetween said intake and said exhaust of said compressor means, each ofsaid chilling units comprising a valve housing, a float housing and achilling coil and liquid refrigerant conductor communicating from saidvalve housing to the lower side only of said float housing, a flexiblediaphragm positioned between said valve and float housings, and a needlevalve secured and supported intermediate its ends in said diaphragm forregulating the size of an inlet opening in said valve housing, saidneedle valve controlled by float means mounted in said float housing.

5. In a refrigerating apparatus, a chilling unit comprising a valvehousing, a float housing and a chilling coil communicating from saidvalve housing to said float housing, a flexible diaphragm positionedbetween said valveand float hou'sings a needle valve securedintermediate its ends in said diaphragm for regulating the size of aninlet opening in said valve housing, said needle valve controlled byfloat means mounted in said float valve housing, said float meansactuated'by the unevaporated refrigerant from said chilling coil andfins extending from the side vof said float valve housing forcon-ducting heat to said unevaporated refrigerants in said float valvehousing.

6. In a refrigeratingapparatus, a chilling unit comprising a valvehousing, afloat housing and a chilling coil communicating from saidvalve housing to said float housing, a substantially flat flexiblediaphragm provided'with corrugations therein, a needle valve securedintermediate its ends in said diaphragm for regulating the size of aninlet openingin said valve housing, said needle valve controlled byfloat means mounted in said float valve housing, said float meansactuated by the unevaporated refrigerant from said chilling coil andfins extending from the side of said float valve housing for conductingheat to said unevaporated refrigerants in said float housing.

7. A refrigerating apparatus consisting of a compressor and condensingmeans, a lurality of chilling units mounted in multiple between saidintake and said exhaust of said compressor means, each of said chillingunits comprising a valve housing, a float housing and a chilling coilcommunicating from said valve housing to said float housing, a flexiblediaphragm positioned between said valve and float housings, a needlevalve secured intermediate its ends in said diaphragm for regulating thesize of an inlet opening in said valve housing, said needle valvecontrolled by float means mounted in said float housing, said floatmeans actuated by the unevaporated refrigerant from -said chilling coilconducted to the lower side of said float housing and fins extendingfrom the side of said float housing for conducting heat to saidunevaporated refrigerants in said float housing.

8. A refrigerating apparatus consisting of a compressor and a condensingmeans, a plurality of chilling units mounted in multiple b.tween saidintake and said exhaust of -said compressor means, each'of said chillingunits comprising a valve housing, a float housing and a chilling coilcommunicating from said valve housing to said float housing at the lowerside thereof, a substantially flat flexible diphragm provided withcorrugations therein, a needle valve secured intermediate its ends insaid diaphra m for regulating the size of an inlet opening 1n said valvehousing, said needle valve controlled by float means mounted in saidfloat housing, said float means actuated by the unevaporated refrigerantfrom said chilling coil and fins extending from the side of said floathousing for conducting heat to said unevaporated refrigerants in saidfloat housing.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Diego,California, this 14th day of October, 1927.

. ROBERT L. MYERS.

